a winter’s (long) tail

There was a real feel of winter about Bretton today as plummeting temperatures saw good numbers of the more vulnerable birds desperately feeding up to guard against the cold.

 

Fearless Long-tailed Tits were out in force this morning after a very cold night

Wildfowl species too are on the increase with three times as many Goosander as last week, though the Teal had mysteriously vanished.

Today’s Rollcall:Great Crested Grebe (14), Mute Swan (9), Canada Goose (70+), Goosander (68), Mallard (52), Tufted Duck (15), Pochard (3), Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (6), Kestrel (1), Coot (13), Moorhen (4), Pheasant (8), Black-headed Gull (100+), Wood Pigeon (60+), Kingfisher (1), Robin (5), Wren (3), Dunnock (1), Blackbird (10+), Redwing (30+), Mistle Thrush (1), Goldcrest (2), Long-tailed Tit (10+), Great Tit (8), Blue Tit (10+), Coal Tit (2), Nuthatch (3), Treecreeper (1), Carrion Crow (4), Rook (50+), Magpie (3), Jackdaw (50+), Chaffinch (7), Lesser Redpoll (1), Bullfinch (6) – RECORDED 22/11/08 @ 8.30AM – 11AM

Great & Coal Tits await their turn at the feeding station